Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 5: The chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was not allowed to come out of his house to attend Friday prayers today after officials said that he is free to go anywhere.
Mirwaiz continues to be under house arrest, notwithstanding authorities’ announcement of releasing him after 20 month long house detention since August 2019.
“Government authorities went back on their decision,” reads a statement by Hurriyat Conference.
“Late last night police officials visited the Mirwaiz’s residence to convey to him that he continues to be under house arrest , and will not be allowed to go to Jamia Masjid for Friday prayers” it said.
“And since early morning additional forces were deployed outside his house and in the area converting it into a garrison”, the statement added.
Hurriyat strongly condemns the “authoritarian flip flop” of the Government. “Recently Minister of State for Home Affairs had categorically stated that no one in Jammu and Kashmir is under house arrest. If that is so why does the Mirwaiz continue to be detained?” the statement asked.
Hurriyat Conference said that this “imperious decision” of the authorities has hurt the sentiments of people and further aggrieved them “as they were eagerly awaiting the Mirwaiz’s release from arbitrary house arrest.”
The Hurriyat Conference appealed to people that “they should not lose hope and show patience and at no cost resort to any form of violent protest.”
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